The Sporting News articles from October 2005

The Sporting News archives from October 2005

Hitting hot topics with Hank Aaron.(HANG TIME)
October 14, 2005... On Andruw Jones and the Braves: I'd say they're probably setting a record that will never be broken. To win 14 division titles in a row, I don't think anybody will ever surpass that. Andruw Jones does not surprise me with the year he is having....

Big blog on campus: views from the student section at sportingnews.com.
October 14, 2005... From Chris Licata, UConn Daily Campus sports editor My professor was lecturing about the Haitian Revolution, but all I could think about was the 2004 ALCS. If you'd asked any UConn student last week whom the Huskies had on the football...

Great stuff and a little luck goes a long way--maybe all the way.(THE CLOSER)
October 21, 2005... Hey, how about those White Sox? Guess you can ask the Red Sox if they're for real. Three weeks ago, the White Sox were being penciled in for the biggest collapse since the '64 Phillies. Now, Ozzie Guillen is making all the right moves, and his...

All the amenities: Keith Bulluck takes pride in making his space a happenin' place in the Titans' locker room.
October 21, 2005... A New York native, linebacker Keith Bulluck treats his portion of the Titans' locker room like a Manhattan condo, it has to have all the amenities--and a crowd is always welcome. It's not unusual to find a group of players hovering near...

Trouble for the Trojans: yes, Notre Dame can slay the dragon on Saturday in South Bend. Here's how.(COLLEGE FOOTBALL)
October 21, 2005... It was a big day in the Weis household last Saturday. Dad took young Charlie Jr. to get a haircut. Then he took some home video of his wife, Maura, riding one of her two horses. Then he plopped on his couch, turned on the satellite dish and...

Must-see hockey: Penguins rookie Sidney Crosby doesn't talk much, but his once-in-a-generation talent provides the plot for a riveting tale all on its own.(NHL)
October 21, 2005... Four people with television cameras jostle for position in the cramped visitors locker room at Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey. This is a shot they can't miss. Penguins rookie Sidney Crosby is coming off the ice from the morning skate....

Newman barely talks--and still says too much.(NASCAR)
October 21, 2005... Ryan Newman makes no sense at all. He has an engineering degree, so you would expect him to race conservatively... you know, because his education taught him that playing the percentages yields the best possibility of success. But he's one of...

They're not suckers to Humpy--they're fans.(NASCAR)
October 21, 2005... In his 30 years at Lowe's Motor Speedway, track president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler has set the standard by which all track promoters are judged. Called the P.T. Barnum of auto racing--and not just because he had his picture taken riding an elephant...

A sports hernia is a major pain, and it only gets worse.(NFL)
October 21, 2005... Matt Birk no doubt is polite when he encounters fans who wonder why he's on injured reserve for the 2005 season because of lingering repercussions from his sports hernias. After all, they were up and around just a week after their hernias--note...

AFC north.(NFL)
October 21, 2005... BALTIMORE RAVENS WR Derrick Mason has lived up to his reputation as a top receiver, becoming QB Anthony Wright's favorite target. Mason doesn't have great speed, but he runs good routes and accelerates well in and out of breaks. Mason's...

AFC south.(NFL)
October 21, 2005... HOUSTON TEXANS With Jason Babin (labrum) possibly out for the season, LOLB Shantee Orr finally has the chance he has been waiting for. The team likes Orr's work ethic, explosiveness and long arms. In limited opportunities, Orr has shown a...

AFC west.(NFL)
October 21, 2005... DENVER BRONCOS Rookie CB Domonique Foxworth's speed is his greatest asset, but he also has absorbed technique hints from CB Champ Bailey quicker than other young players the team has had. Foxworth plays extremely low, which helps him come...

Time for Favre to step aside? Now, that's a ridiculous notion.(NFL)
October 21, 2005... Last week, I got steamed. The Packers were 0-4 and there was all this talk about how it might be time for Brett Favre to step aside and let Aaron Rodgers, the team's No. 1 draft choice, take over. That is, without a doubt, the stupidest notion...

NFC south.(NFL)
October 21, 2005... ATLANTA FALCONS Ike Reese is expected to replace MLB Ed Hartwell, who was lost for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon. Reese (6-2,222) has the speed to play all three linebacker spots, but he lacks the bulk to play inside. He's best...

Scouts views: observations and opinions from two NFL scouts, one from each conference.(NFL)
October 21, 2005... Pound for pound, Warrick Dunn is probably one of the toughest players in the history of the game. He's a gutsy, hard-charging player who just keeps coming at you. He makes plays when you need them.... I really like Denver's group of linebackers...

TSN's 12.5: half the size, twice the sizzle.(COLLEGE FOOTBALL)
October 21, 2005... TSN'S 12.5 Half the size, twice the sizzle Rk. Team (last week) W-L Next up TV (All Times Eastern) 1. USC (1) 5-0 at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., NBC 10/15 One of these...

From Ben Azar, UCLA Daily Bruin assistant sports editor.(BIG BLOG ON CAMPUS)
October 21, 2005... Views from the student section at sportingnews.com Trailing Cal, 40-35, in the fourth quarter, it looks like the Bruins' undefeated start is over. The Bruins get the ball. Here's a pass from Drew Olson to Marcus Everett--is there hope? Now...

How to ... deal with Little League parents.(COLLEGE FOOTBALL)
October 21, 2005... I have bullet points in our playbook that I review with our team each year. One of them is: "Keep your family out of your playing career." I don't say, "Keep them out of your life;" I say, "Keep them out of your playing career? These young...

A look back at what should have been.(NBA)
October 21, 2005... Kevin Garnett is not particularly charming. He's as cuddly as a cactus. Garnett is so intense it sometimes seems he has blood vessels the size of garden hoses. Before the seventh game of a 2004 playoff series against the Kings, Garnett noted...

To know list: 7 steroid-free products you won't regret ingesting.(KNOW IT ALL)
October 28, 2005... 1 PRIMED FOR PAY DIRT L.T. has reached the breaking point If La Dainian Tomlinson makes it into the end zone on Sunday, it will mark a stunning accomplishment. The Chargers running back will have scored a touchdown in his 19th straight...

Caught on the fly.(KNOW IT ALL)
October 28, 2005... The ALCS games in Chicago really were a treat. After all, it's amazing how much you can enjoy watching pitches from U.S. Cellular without Joan Cusack. WHAT'S THE MYSTERY HERE? Thanks to the latest plot line on Desperate Housewives, the...

BOB Hille's starting 5.(KNOW IT ALL)
October 28, 2005... 1 The World Series. It's baseball's time to shine. And, honestly, won't it be nice to see Bud answer questions about the state of the game on FOX instead of C-SPAN? 2 Mike Martz. I'm glad he's taking a break to get well. I was alarmed...

A root cause for tripping out: October means a head-spinning travel sked--and mind-numbing questions about cheering interests.(MY TURN)
October 28, 2005... Talk about shelf life! As I was wandering through an airport the other day I finally realized how funny one of my dad's old jokes was. I am sure the same thing will happen to me in about 2009 when I finally chuckle at one of Larry David's lines...

Your turn.(KNOW IT ALL)(Letter to the Editor)
October 28, 2005... 'I was crushed (LOL) to see the Yankees and Red Sox get bumped from the playoffs. Try $245 million next year.--Jack Chase, North Royalton, Ohio' * Can somebody please find a ladder so Matt Hayes can get off his high horse? Calling the...

Sports talk with ... Will Ferrell.(KNOW IT ALL)(Interview)
October 28, 2005... Huge sports fan, hugely funny man TSN: You're filming a comedy in which you play a NASCAR driver named Ricky Bobby. Why a NASCAR movie? FERRELL: It was kind of a byproduct of (director) Adam McKay and I just seeing how insanely popular...

Old is in.(ON DECK)
October 28, 2005... Old is in. Think back to when you were a young laddie/lassie. Which were the premier programs in college football? Guess what: They're all great again! (Well, maybe not the service academies.) Alabama, Florida State and Penn State are among the...

The Breeders' Cup: great fields, huge stakes--is this the coolest event in horse racing? Bet on it.(WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH ...)
October 28, 2005... If you're one of those people who puts a dime down on the Kentucky Derby and thnkis you're edgy because it's not just another football-Sunday wager, maybe it's time to grow up and bet the Breeders' Cup. Every serious horse player in the...

2005 MLB awards presented by GMC[R]: we are professional grade[TM].(KNOW IT ALL)
October 28, 2005... PLAYER OF THE YEAR Andruw Jones CF, BRAVES At 28, Jones had the breakout season the Braves had hoped for since he was a 19-year-old World Series star. He brought a widened stance into spring training and stuck with it even after a...

Down to business: dominating pitchers and a lack of big-name hitters should make for a nail-biter of a World Series.(MLB PLAYOFFS)
October 28, 2005... Based on what has transpired so far, this World Series could be known as much for what it won't have as what it will have. You may have heard the Yankees are sitting this one out--again. So are noted sluggers such as Manny Ramirez and Alex...

The Cincinnati kid: laugh at the Bengals if you want, but Carson Palmer is proof they can get something right.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... It happens almost every day they are together. They can be on the practice field or playing golf or pool or basketball. Doesn't matter. "Hey, Jon," Carson Palmer will say to Jon Kitna. "Bet I can beat you." And Kitna will smile and tell him,...

The class of '05: with five races to go, not all of NASCAR's prize pupils can be most likely to win the whole thing.(NASCAR)
October 28, 2005... Nextel Cup High School is a close-knit community full of gossip and rumors, with haves (multicar teams) and have-nots (single-car teams). Reputations are made early and are hard to change. Cliques are difficult to penetrate; outsiders are...

Can you feel the love: a happy--or at least tolerant--relationship between star player and coach is the key to success for several teams, most notably the Lakers.(NBA PREVIEW)
October 28, 2005... The floor of the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu is littered with all the trappings of training camp--errant balls, discarded headbands, rolls of tape, unidentifiable long-shot roster hopefuls (Von Wafer? Adam Parada?). Lakers general manager...

Power poll.(Instant expert: Your cheat sheet for the NBA season)
October 28, 2005... Power poll Rank Team 10 words or less. 1 SPURS Defending champs will be better than last season. 2 HEAT Policing newcomers should give Shaq head start ...

TSNumbers.(Instant expert: Your cheat sheet for the NBA season)
October 28, 2005... 3:1 The Spurs' odds of winning the championship in at least one sports book. The Heat are next at 18:5. 10 Teams that will have a new head coach on opening night. 1,001 3-point attempts the Suns lost when Quentin Richardson and Joe...

In & out.(Instant expert: Your cheat sheet for the NBA season)
October 28, 2005... An advance scout gives us the early word--OK, very early word---on playoff possibilities. "The Cavs. They were over .500 last season, which usually is good enough to get you in when you play in the East." "The Sonics. They have a new...

Top 5.(Instant expert: Your cheat sheet for the NBA season)
October 28, 2005... Offseason moves out involving a coach 1 Larry Hughes to the Cars. If he focuses more on defense than shot attempts, he'll be LeBron's first worthy sidekick. 2 Kurt Thomas to the Suns. He'll have to do more than rebound and provide an...

Does dress equal success?(Instant expert: Your cheat sheet for the NBA season)
October 28, 2005... There was no lockout, nary an All-Star changed teams, and no superstars went on trial for rape. The offseason was so slow, in fact, that David Stern had to create a bit of controversy by saying he's working on implementing a dress code. ...

Eastern conference.(NBA PREVIEW)
October 28, 2005... POWER POLL RANKING 1 Miami HEAT What happened: It doesn't get any bigger than the biggest trade in NBA history, the five-team. 13-player deal that delivered PF Antoine Walker, SF James Posey, PG Jason Williams and SG Andre Emmett to...

Western conference.(NBA PREVIEW)
October 28, 2005... POWER POLL RANKING 1 San Antonio SPURS What happened: The Spurs landed the biggest prize of the NBA's amnesty clause cuts, G/F Michael Finley. A 10-year veteran, Finley brings a career scoring average of 19.0 points and 56 games of playoff...

Big news for the little guy.(NASCAR)
October 28, 2005... Remember the FOX sitcom from the early 1990s called Herman's Head, in which the lead character continually heard voices of conscience arguing inside him? That's how I've felt since NASCAR revealed plans for capping ownership in the Nextel...

Race 6.(NASCAR)
October 28, 2005... TRACK facts MARTINSVILLE Speedway Opened: 1947 Location: Martinsville, Va. First NASCAR Cup race: September 25, 1949 Distance: .526 miles Front stretch: 800 feet Back stretch: 800 feet Banking in Turns 1-4:...

A garage expert handicaps the Chase contenders.(NASCAR: DRIVER REPORTS)
October 28, 2005... Newman is my choice to win it all. On the final five tracks we race--Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead--Newman, with the help of his engineering juggernaut, composed of himself, crew chief Matt Borland and second-in-command...

Young quarterbacks must be coddled.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... Rookie quarterbacks, like babies, should be fed slowly, from tiny spoons. Their diet should be soft and easily digestible. And still, they may spit up all over themselves. No one wears the burp cloth quite like Bill Cowher, whose formulas...

The hits keep coming for one NFL official.(HOW DOES THAT FEEL?)
October 28, 2005... Two months after NFL umpire Garth DeFelice gave us first-person insight into what it's like to be a game official standing amid all the on-field turmoil (TSN, August 5), he became a star of highlight reels in Week 5. DeFelice, who was...

AFC east.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... BUFFALO BILLS Jason Peters is considered LT Mike Gandy's primary backup, but Peters is being used a lot as an extra tight end-his college position-in short-yardage and goal-line situations. The Bills see him as a diamond in the rough who...

AFC north.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... BALTIMORE RAVENS If he continues to play well, QB Anthony Wright likely will remain the starter when Kyle Boller (toe) returns, probably in two weeks. Both quarterbacks have problems going through progressions and turn the ball over....

AFC south.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... HOUSTON TEXANS Chester Pitts has moved from left guard to left tackle in an effort to improve the pass protection. Pitts is a more athletic pass blocker than Victor Riley, who thrived as a run blocker on the left side but struggled against...

Scout views: observations and opinions from two NFL.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... The Eagles still are the best team in the NFC, but there are some teams on their heels. If Donovan McNabb can't perform at his normal level, they'll be bypassed.... Jeff Fisher is a hell of a coach. Even with the Titans' cap troubles and other...

AFC west.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... DENVER BRONCOS Trevor Pryce's versatility allows the defense to create mismatches. He can hold up at tackle because of his lower-body strength. Though he has adequate quickness to get around the edge at end, his go-to moves are more...

Cowboy up: the man behind Bledsoe's resurgence.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... Looking for reasons Drew Bledsoe is enjoying a rebirth in Dallas? Here's one: Sean Payton. Payton caught my eye when he took over play-calling duties for the Giants in a game against the Jets in December 1999. The Giants had been...

NFC east.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... DALLAS COWBOYS WR Peerless Price will replace Patrick Crayton (ankle), who is out for the season. Crayton was a key part of the nickel offense. Price did most of his damage out of the slot during a standout 2002 season, but he has been a...

NFC north.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... CHICAGO BEARS RB Thomas Jones has been everything the Bears could have wanted. Before coming to Chicago, he was regarded as a cutback runner who was best when attacking the edges of a defense, but he has proved to be a tough...

Two for the money.(UNDER REVIEW with Vikings FS Darren Sharper)
October 28, 2005... Going into the movie, I thought it was going to be pretty good, but it ended up like a Super Bowl matchup in the early '90s, when Dallas and San Fran were dynasties. You expected to see a good performance, and it ended up being a blowout. ...

Week 7 matchup.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... Gates' unique combination of size (6-4, 260) and speed makes him nearly impossible to cover. But Dawkins has a history of success against the league's elite tight ends. The Eagles will defend Gates the same way they defended the Chiefs'...

NFC south.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... ATLANTA FALCONS Rookie WLB Michael Boley has big-play potential, as he showed when he caused two fumbles and blocked a field-goal attempt against the Saints, but he needs to improve his recognition. Boley, who became a starter when Keith...

You're wrong if you call them the 'same old Saints'.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... The shame of it is that, after seeing New Orleans drop to 2-4 in a game in which Atlanta returned a fumble and a blocked field-goal attempt for touchdowns, most folks probably thought, "Same old Saints." And that is so wrong. This team is much...

NFC West.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... ARIZONA CARDINALS The lack of a running game is hurting production in the red zone; the team has no rushing scores and only two touchdowns in 15 possessions inside their opponents' 20-yard line. Defenses can ignore the run, so WRs Anquan...

TSN scoreboard.(NFL)
October 28, 2005... TSN SCOREBOARD AFC EAST BUF NE W-L 3-3 3-3 Pct. .500 .500 PF 95...

Marcus is the pick of the Vicks.(COLLEGE FOOTBALL)
October 28, 2005... Please everyone hands and feet inside the car. This is going to be a wild ride. Marcus Vick is better than Mike Vick. There, I said it. I don't mean he's better than Mike in certain aspects of his game. I don't mean he's better...

TSN's 12.5 half the size, twice the sizzle.(COLLEGE FOOTBALL)
October 28, 2005... TOP 5 'LITTLE GUYS' 1. Fresno State (4-1) 2. TCU (6-1) 3. UTEP (4-1) 4. Toledo (5-1) 5. Bowling Green (4-2) STORY LINES 1. USC wins an instant classic 2. 'Noles offense? Still Jurassic 3. Big Ten...

RB Reggie Bush, Southern California.(PLAYER OF THE WEEK)
October 28, 2005... Bush showed why he is a one-of-a-kind player when he ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns on only 15 carries as the Trojans avoided the upset against Notre Dame. And even though USC quarterback Matt Leinart scored the winning touchdown, Bush...

Big blog on campus.(COLLEGE FOOTBALL)
October 28, 2005... From Justin Coons, Colorado Campus Press Sports Editor Ouch. That's pretty much all I can say. I wish I had something good to say about the Buffs. Really, I wish I had something to say at all. Just about every play I saw out there...

Heisman watch.(COLLEGE FOOTBALL)
October 28, 2005... 1. Matt Leinart, USC 1,947 passing yards, 12 TDs. 2. Reggie Bush, USC 761 rushing yards (8.8 per carry). 3. Vince Young, Texas 1,770 combined passing-rushing yards, 17 combined TDs. 4. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame 1,885 passing yards, 14 TDs. 5....

3-and-out.(COLLEGE FOOTBALL)
October 28, 2005... 1 The victory against Penn State may have saved what was left of Michigan's season, but the Wolverines remain this year's biggest disappointment. Every year, Lloyd Carr's teams pull out victories after they're eliminated from the title hunt....

A winner's will: USC increase its aura of invincibility by showing--again--it will come up with big plays when they're needed most.(COLLEGE FOOTBALL)
October 28, 2005... Blasphemous--that's what it is. You watch how easily he makes everyone look so silly. Your fists clench and your breath slips to shallow whenever he touches the ball on the field. But then, all of a sudden, he opens up, exposing a sense of...

Coaches on the hot seat.(CONFERENCE CALL)
October 28, 2005... ACC Chan Galley, Georgia Tech. The October 6 game between Georgia Tech and N.C. State might have been a coaching elimination showdown. Both Galley and the Wolfpack's Chuck Amato had been the topics of dissatisfied whispers, and the Jackets'...

Enough with the Yankee-panky.(BASEBALL)
October 28, 2005... Start the drumbeat. Another desperate Yankees offseason is under way, and a dizzying list of free-agent and trade possibilities is making the rounds. Right fielder Gary Sheffield and catcher Jorge Posada might be dealt. Second baseman...

Bama is dealing with a sizable issue.(INSIDER)
October 28, 2005... Along with shaking John Wooden's hand and seeing your team beat Duke, there is another common basketball fantasy: big guys all around. We love size in this game. The taller the better. There are lots of 6-11 projects but none who stand 5-9. ...

Fantasy source.
October 28, 2005... PLAY ACTION Only die-hard fantasy owners play in leagues that bother with offensive linemen. But that doesn't mean owners in standard leagues are free to ignore what's happening with the big dudes up front. After six weeks, Houston and...

Crazy stuff, eight days a week.
October 28, 2005... The Week That Was in SportsWorld... SATURDAY. So I'm at this chick flick, In Her Shoes, and what's the last thing you'd expect from a movie featuring Cameron Diaz's legs from every conceivable angle? (She's a shoo-in for the Oscar for Best...